The annual Rehoboth Community Trust Expo that brings together renowned livestock breeders of both small and large stock to showcase their products was described as a huge success.
The chairman of the trust, Ronald Kubas, told New Era on Saturday that the two-day event which started on Friday, 23 April at the Community Trust Grounds, “brought people with different expertise together to share knowledge and experiences, and is therefore vital for the agriculture sector”.
He said the trust’s aim is to create a platform for the community to interact in activities that build their local economy, while showcasing the different products that SMEs in Rehoboth have to offer.
“It is a platform for the small and medium enterprises to network with the advanced enterprises to acquire more skills,” Kubas said.
The expo had attracted 400 small stock from nine exhibitors, consisting of mainly Boer and Kalahari Red goats, while sheep producers brought Van Rooy and Meat Master breeds, amongst others.
He said since Rehoboth has an agricultural background, the expo’s agricultural component is vital in enabling breeders to showcase their products. The expo was first held in 2017, and has been held every year after that, with the exception of 2020 due to the outbreak of Covid-19. Sixty-one head of cattle from six exhibitors took part in the agricultural part of the expo, and featured popular breeds such as the Brahman and Simbra.
Lovers of the Simbra breed, which is highly rated for its milk yield and beef quality, had the opportunity to come up close and personal with the animals.
Eight formal retail and banking exhibitors and 15 SME entrepreneurs showcased their wares, while just over 1 000 people visited the event.
The expo was born “from the idea of bringing the community together while promoting trade and networking opportunities for SMEs, thus providing an event where they could showcase their products,” Kubas said.
He emphasised the SME component of the expo, reiterating that the overarching idea is to gather and interact socially while various entertainment activities are taking place, such as a music show, a gala dinner, horse racing and volleyball matches.